25 Tips to Get the Ultimate Kitchen

1. Highlight the Cooking Center

Positioned to keep the chef focused on the cooking, this 48-inch-wide professional-grade range is flanked by countertops and spice storage. The range hood is made from fixed cabinet doors.

2. Give Your Island Legs

Zaveloff based the design of the furniture-look seating island on the kind of stainless-steel tables used in restaurant kitchens. "With a shelf on the bottom and no countertop overhang, you can pull up stools, put your feet on the shelf, and have space for your knees," she says.

3. Combine Countertops

Quartz-surfacing (shown on the back island) and two types of solid-surfacing -- all fabricated into 2 1/2-inch-thick countertops -- designate zones and create an "added over time" effect.

4. Put Dishes Within Reach

A wall-mount plate rack keeps everyday dinnerware close to the dishwasher.

5. Set Up a Breakfast Station

A tambour door that lifts like a rolltop desk hides a toaster and other breakfast supplies.

6. Select a Sink that Makes a Statement

With its vintage roots and 48-inch-wide basin, this utility sink adds function and fashion. A pair of faucets mounts to its integral backsplash for cleanup ease.

7. Keep Cooking Essentials Close

Borrowing a concept from the restaurant business, Zaveloff and her husband and business partner, Nick, devised this clever utensil organization system: countertop cutouts that hold metal bins in assorted sizes.

8. Spotlight Your Work Area

Wall-mount lights with a bronze finish illuminate the work sink.

9. Finesse with Furniture

An antique China hutch inspired the look of this storage piece made from ordinary kitchen cabinetry.

10. Mix Cabinetry Finishes

To convey a feeling of informality, Zaveloff layered cabinetry in natural oak with two painted finishes: creamy white and amber.

11. Store Your Food in Clear View

"Food is the ultimate kitchen accessory," Zaveloff says. That's why she specified clear-glass cabinet doors for part of the pantry storage. Packaged goods sit within reach and add color and casualness.

12. Create a Beverage Center

Make it easy for guests to help themselves: Coffeemakers and accompanying supplies on this marble-look countertop team with an undercounter refrigerator and icemaker covered with cabinet panels.

13. Put Your Cabinets to Work

Maximize your cabinet space to hold the kitchen supplies you want to stow away. This pantry cabinet features rollout trays in the arched nook and swinging racks.

14. Tuck Away the Microwave

Hidden appliances avoid an overly industrial look. This kitchen's microwave oven found a surprising yet convenient home in its own niche behind a tambour door.

15. Simplify Food Prep

Zaveloff's version of mise en place -- a French term that refers to having all the ingredients prepared and ready to go before cooking begins -- turns the prep island into an efficient workhorse. Preparing ingredients and temporarily storing them in removable bins eases the cook's work once guests arrive.

16. Choose an Artful Backsplash

Glass tiles in a graphic mosaic pattern add sparkle to three walls of the kitchen.

17. Install a Pot-Filler Faucet

Eliminate lugging large pots of water to the range with a cold-water wall-mount faucet.

18. Use Special Cabinet Features

Modular cabinets designed to hold bottles and stemware create a custom look.


19. Take Care of Your Wine

Undercounter wine refrigerators keep bottles properly chilled in a small amount of space. Doors fitted with wooden frames integrate the appliances into the cabinets.

20. Plan Seating for Guests

Fuss-free antique French stools pull up to a granite-top table-style island.

21. Convey Vintage Flavor with Flooring

Walnut planks with a sculpted surface run throughout the wine room and other spaces. Their finish and texture evoke images of timeworn European country kitchens.

22. Showcase Your Hobby

Install specialty shelving to highlight hobbies, such as vintage kitchen utensils, pottery, or one-of-a-kind bottles. Here, the wall of wine storage is undeniably dramatic.

23. Incorporate User-Friendly Touches

Adding an adjacent powder room makes it easy for guests to do a quick touch-up during a casual gathering. Plus, the cook doesn't have to dash to another room to freshen up during food prep.

24. Define Work Zones

One side of the butler's pantry -- which connects the kitchen and wine room -- is designed as a cleanup station with sink, dishwasher, and hidden recycling bins.


25. Strive for Function with Style

The wine room's dishwasher and apron-front sink are two examples of elements that combine good looks with hard work.

Creative Ways to Store Dishes

Flatware

If you are showcasing your family's precious silver, consider a nested approach. Here, cabinets have been outfitted with drawers featuring divided pullout trays. This way family and friends can admire the delicate artisanship, but the pieces are protected from scratches.

Adapt restaurant-style equipment to keep everyday utensils handy and organized. When entertaining, take caddies and contents to the table. If a skinny pullout is unavailable, adopt the same vertical storage principles by keeping flatware organized in jars in cupboards.

Adapt restaurant-style equipment to keep everyday utensils handy and organized. When entertaining, take caddies and contents to the table. If a skinny pullout is unavailable, adopt the same vertical storage principles by keeping flatware organized in jars in cupboards.

Plates and Bowls

Deep pullout drawers ensure that the right serving pieces, linens, and flatware are never out of arm's reach. This drawer includes a modified pegboard approach that uses oversize pegs to keep dishes from sliding and chipping.

Plates and Bowls

Open Storage

Open storage ensures an easy reach for often-used items. Baskets corral linens and other items used infrequently.

Here's a tip: Choose baskets with built-in handles for easier transport from one location to another.

Plates and Bowls

Plate Rails

Plate rails offer a straight-forward way to show off collections of dishes. With only one row of storage, it's easy to retrieve plates to put on the table. The rails may be painted or stained suit the room.

Plates and Bowls

See-Through Storage

When installed in front of a kitchen window, a plate rack lends a colorful, yet open, airy feel to a kitchen.

Plates and Bowls

Pullout drawers

Pullout drawers give easy access to stacks of plates and bowls in deep cabinets. They make it a breeze to put clean dishes away and protect your back by eliminating the need to lift a stack of dishes into the back of an upper cabinet.

Plates and Bowls

Close to the Dishwasher

Install a drawer next to the dishwasher for frequently used dishes. This prevents you from carting heavy stacks of plates across the kitchen after every wash.

Serving Pieces

Cooped Up

Decorative bowls and platters don't need to be hidden away in a closet. Instead, use niches and glass-front cabinets to showcase beautiful dishware.

Here's a tip: Arrange items by height -- standing platters and serving dishes in the back, bowls and pitchers in front -- to utilize every inch of space.

Serving Pieces

The Perfect Sidekick

An awkward space -- created when a new space-saving appliance was installed -- didn't cause a problem in this kitchen. Instead, the tall, slim niche was outfitted with shelves and decorative baskets to hold napkins, mitts, and even vegetables.

Serving Pieces

Piece of Cake

Grab wall space where you find it. This vintage-style shelf trio solves the dilemma of storing odd-shape cake stands and chintzware too pretty to tuck away.

Here's a tip: Use this type of setup for teapots, cookie jars, and vases. Adjust style, size, and spacing to fit the contents.

Serving Pieces

Between Studs

Be sneaky about carving out storage spots of all sizes and shapes. These trays rest in a shallow rack set between the studs. Thin or small items are perfect for cozy quarters like this. Fit spices in a backsplash or canned goods in a shallow cabinet.

10 Reasons to Love Cottage Kitchens

Cottage Charms at Any Age

Surfaces that suggest age exemplify the relaxed look and touchable textures of an easy-care cottage kitchen. Use your favorite chair, chipped paint and all. It looks great with beaded-board-style cabinets that mimic timeworn wainscoting. Dark grout suggests 100-year-old spaces while reducing upkeep on subway-tile walls.

Cottage Loves Wood's Warmth

Smooth and gleaming or worn and weathered, wood furnishings and surfaces connect cottage decor to nature. Mix types and finishes for cozy comfort. This dining room's focal point is the glass-door hutch, stripped of paint and home to white ironstone.

Cottage Claims More Than One Mood

Ask four people to define "cottage" and you'll likely get four different descriptions. Spanning locales, eras, and lifestyles, cottage suits you and your home, now and later.

Cottage = Mix + Match

Using unfitted furniture suggests your cottage kitchen has evolved. Whether mismatched or hand-me-downs, Grandma's hutch and Aunt Judy's bench are personal and practical: Change the look of stock built-in cabinets with faux legs or feet.

Cottage Revels in Making Do

Salvaged cabinets become creative projects when stripped, distressed, or treated to new color. Replace the hardware or insert glass door panels for an affordable update. Traces of old finish lend character to this repurposed piece. Enlist chests and cabinets from another room for creative kitchen storage to show off your style.

Cottage Trim Adds Character

New house? No problem. Use cottage icons such as beaded board, moldings, and plate rails to create almost-instant architecture and a sense of history. Install pieces in stages as your budget allows.

Cottage Displays Personal Style

Show your stuff. From bowls to biscuit cutters, cottage collections express your personality and some are functional enough to earn their keep -- as well as wall or shelf space. Open shelves (or doorless cabinets) let you enjoy collectible pottery. A gallery of family photos rates handcrafted wood frames.

Cottage Is Family-Friendly

People will gather in your kitchen; why not make them feel at home? Adding a comfy place to sit and visit can comfort the cook as well as the guests. Partnering a worn farm table with two circa-1950 chairs and a padded banquette creates a cozy spot for dining and conversation.

Cottage Colors Save Cash

A cottage kitchen's cheery hues play well with one another and with budget-smart white sinks and appliances. Use color to unify mismatched wood or metal pieces. The sink features an inexpensive white finish and pairs well with the white dining set, chandelier, cabinet knobs, and ceramic tiles.

Cottage Gets Cozy with Accessories

In cottage kitchens, homey accents are meant to be seen and used. Search garage sales and flea markets for dishes, glasses, and pottery in colors, shapes, and patterns that make you smile.

Our Favorite User Kitchens

Warm and Inviting Kitchen

The wood tones, countertop, tile backsplash, and paint are all in the same warm color family, giving this kitchen a cohesive look. The built-in shelf above the cabinets is a great place to display plants and accessories.

Cozy Neutral Kitchen

Choosing granite with many different colors in it allowed the homeowner to decorate with both black and brown. Sleek pendant lights are a cool and practical way to illuminate a center island.

Bright White Kitchen

White makes small spaces, like this tight kitchen, look larger than they really are. Adding warm wood on the floor and barstools keeps the look from feeling cold.

Unique Details

The ceiling is a wonderful feature that really gives the kitchen a one-of-a-kind look. Stainless steel appliances and metallic touches on the light fixtures add a little sparkle to the space.

Beauty on a Budget

The warm tones of this kitchen are a natural complement to the brick. Stainless steel appliances and accessories add a modern flair to this old-meets-new space.

Sunny Gathering Place

This bright kitchen is neutral, but not boring. Mixing several shades of cream and white gives it a rich and cozy look. The backsplash over the range is stunning.

Warm and Beautiful

The light walls, countertops, and floor help balance the dark cabinetry. Ornate iron barstools make the island the perfect place to grab a quick bite to eat or chat while cooking.

Inviting Kitchen

The colors in the countertop pick up the rich tone of the cabinetry. Metal knobs match the faucet and accessories, helping the whole room to work together. Dark and light colors are in perfect balance.

Imaginative Vision

We love how a little time and creativity helped save money. Combining some DIY projects with quality materials, such as the granite countertops, is a smart way to get a stylish kitchen for less.

DIY Kitchen

This kitchen looks like a designer came in and created a custom room. From the faux tin backsplash to the light fixture, the details are impeccable. Also, mixing different tones of cabinetry is a hot trend right now and these homeowners did a great job combining creamy cabinets with black open shelving.

Inspired Kitchen

This kitchen beautifully balances light and dark. The white backsplash tile has a vintage feel to it. Thoughtful innovations, such as the microwave drawer and wine cooler, add a modern touch. Beautiful crown molding finishes the room.

Modern Kitchen

Forgoing lower cabinets in favor of sleek wood drawers is a clever design choice. Clean lines and metallic details give this kitchen a contemporary feel.

Antique Treatment

The treatment on the cabinets gives the appearance that they've been in the space for a while. The black hardware coordinates nicely with the black countertops and accessories.

Black and White Kitchen

The sparkly chandelier and animal-print rug are special touches that help define the eating space. The combination of white cabinetry and black furniture work beautifully together.